Research has found a correlation between participation in family routines/rituals and positive language, social, emotional, and academic development in kids. While psyhologists can’t say that the “routines” actually cause the positive outcomes (this is correlation, not true experiment), researchers concluded that families with routines tend … Continue reading
Category Archives: children
Challenging the Epidemic of Disconnection: Awareness and Acceptance
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By Angelica Shiels Psy.D. As a mom of three little boys, I desperately want this world to be better. I want my boys to someday live in a world where people with a certain skin color aren’t more likely to … Continue reading
“Love” Unfit for a Hallmark Card
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By Angelica Shiels Psy.D. (Article also posted on Mamapedia) For two days after the birth of our first child, my husband and I were overcome with this complex combination of calm and crazy. As first-time parents, we were so proud, so … Continue reading
The best thing a parent can do for a highly emotional child.
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By Angelica Shiels Psy.D. I see many kids and teens that suffer from Depression, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality traits in therapy. Many parents want to know, “What causes my child to feel so sad , lonely, depleted, apathetic, or … Continue reading
Free and Simple Ways to Increase a Child’s Self Esteem.
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By Angelica Shiels Psy.D. (Article also featured on Lifehack) Healthy self-esteem is something that most parents strive to instill in their children. Having “healthy self-esteem” means being able to acknowledge both the positive and the negative aspects of one’s self … Continue reading
7 research findings that every parent should know
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By Angelica Shiels Psy.D. There is so much “stuff” out there on parenting; It is sometimes difficult to parse out the latest theoretical fads from the findings that have been actually suggested by research. To make matters more complicated, every child … Continue reading
Should my child see a therapist? (From kidshealth.org)
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Here’s a great article I found in Kidshealth.org about children and therapy: Sometimes kids, like adults, can benefit from therapy. Therapy can help kids develop problem-solving skills and also teach them the value of seeking help. Therapists can help kids … Continue reading
Let. It. Go.
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By Angelica Shiels Psy.D. We went fishing in the ocean today, and my three boys had their first experience with the concept of “catch and release.” Only they were so insistent on keeping Freddy the fish as a pet, they … Continue reading
We can do brave things.
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My heart was pounding, my breathing restricted, my hands sweaty. My instinct screamed at me, “You’re too young to die. Turn back now.” My rational brain said, “That’s just your anxiety talking. You’re only going up the stairs of a … Continue reading
Survival guide to back-to-school shopping.
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Back-to-School Shopping. Yes, this cringe-worthy time is upon us soon. Let’s face it, every August, the local Target assumes all the characteristics of the primate house at the zoo. The bumping, the whining, the spilling, the huddling, the civilized fighting … Continue reading
ON THE YELLOW COUCH 